The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-01

other words, that, in person of average
size, there are from sixteen to eighteen pil,ts.
In health, pint-even quart-of blood can
be Withdrawn from the vessels without in
jury, and doubtless in but few cases would {;
loss OF one-third the entire amount contained
III the body prove fatal From this statement
it must not be inferred that when hemorrhagc
occurs treatment may be leisurely applied; far
from it. The bleeding should in all cases be
Immediately arrested, if possible The reader
should know, however, how great loss can
be sustained, without life being threatened,
for it is often fear of Immediate death that is
tcrrorizinS and renders one poWerless il such
emergencies.
ARTERIES AND VEINS.
An artery is known to have been wounded
when blood of bright red color spurts out
IL jets, corresponding to the beats of the
pulse. II a vein is opened, dark red blood
flows from the wound in a steady stream.
Bleeding from wounded arteries is in nearly
all instances by far the most dangerous
IL cases Of hcElolrhage at all profuse, firm
pressure should be instantly made directly
upon the bleeding part. The ncxt step to
take Will depend upon the situation and
character OF tho wound If tho ii Jury is on
either OF the limbs and is severe it is always
well to have the patient placed fat on his
b2ck and tho injured member elevated and
supported by an assistant. During this !lro-
cedure the bleeding must be prevented bv
unrelaxed pressure
If small artery has been cut, it viii be
known by the size of the jet which spurts out
when the wound was received la such cases
bandaging directly over the wound will often
control the hemorrhagc \ pad should be
made little larger than tf1. cut, by folding
Or rolling firmly piece of cloth This, when
ready, should be placed over the wound. the
fingers which have previously grasped it be-
ing quickly lifted up for the purpose, and es
quickly should they renew their pressure on
the pad. Over this a bandago can then be
applied, a piece Of sheet, three CT four inches
wide and six feet long, being used.
If tic bleeding has entirely ceased. to wet
and keep the banGagc saturated with cold
water and the limb supported is all that
there remains to 90. Ii, however, the bleed
ing persists then the treatment to be advised
when q large artery is wounded must be en-
pioyed In such cases no attempt should be
made to permanently arrest the hemogrharo
by bandaging the wound, but between it and
the body, around the limb, q firm bandacre
twisted handkerchief, large cord or a picco
OF rubber tubing should be drawn tightly
and tied il q knot, to shut off tho supply Of
blood. Not until this is ef1ectually done
should pressure Of tho fi1ge-s on tho bleeding
part Ee relaxed.
A SIhPLE LAW EXPLAINED.
In cases where the wound is largo, and sew
! eTal small arteries arc opened, and pressure
with the finger does not control the bleeding,
| then the Egature should DO applied above the
injury. Bleeding from small veins is gener-
| ally easily controlled by bandaging over the
wound. When, however, Important vessels
arc opened, as is sometimes tic case with en-
! larged veins Of the leg, then tho blood should
be cut off from the bleeding part by tightly
| bandaging, not between it and the body, but
! between the wound and the extremity. This
! simple law may easily be explaired; the
| blood goes to the cxtrcmtics through the
arteries, but returns through tie veins.
To control hemorrhagc in some situations
is moro difficult than in others. II a large
artery is opened above tie knee or elbow it is
! doubtful il a bandaSe can be drawn tightly
enough to cut Off the blood between the
wound and the body without inlproyising a
! tolrniquet. To do this is easy, however A
| common handkerchief can be tied loosely
! around the leg or arm, and the slack taken
! up by twisting with cane OF stick until suf-
| fcient pressure is exertcd to prevent the pas
SAGE of blood to the wound The advice of
| DR.. Hopo is well worth remembering: IF
you he by yourself in the fields, and get o
severe cut with q scythc, Or il any sudden
emergency, such os a railroad accident use
the remedy which Las saved many a life Oh
( the field of baltic. Tako q handful of dry
EARTH put this on the wound and grasp
tightly till you call for assistance"
As previously stated, il nearly all cases of
hemocrhagc from wounds there is no ncccs-
. sity for the alarm often shown, especially
as fear perverts the Judgment OF thocc who
could L.Ich moro serve the true interests of
the sufferer by keeping cool and collected.
| OF course, II all emergencies Q physician
should bo Immediately sent for. If tho
bleeding is controlled by pressure of the fin
gers, all other operations which follow can
be done leisarely, as there is no urgent haste
and none should be indulged in.-Journal OF
! Health.